Fellow Instructors
Moderators: North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako
- Freddy_Francis
- Rank 3
- Posts: 179
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:19 am
- Location: West Coast
Fellow Instructors
To all new instructors
Just wondering how the job hunt has been going. The job ads for instructors had a good spike on the job boards not too long ago. However it seems that everything is slow again.
I've been sending and calling and visiting but not much going on.
Any success stories out there? Am I alone on this boat?
Just curious....
Just wondering how the job hunt has been going. The job ads for instructors had a good spike on the job boards not too long ago. However it seems that everything is slow again.
I've been sending and calling and visiting but not much going on.
Any success stories out there? Am I alone on this boat?
Just curious....
Fly Safe
F2
F2
- FlaplessDork
- Rank 7
- Posts: 605
- Joined: Sun May 25, 2008 9:50 am
- Location: British Columbia
Re: Fellow Instructors
I hear McDonalds is hiring. Pay's more plus you'll never go hungry.
- FlaplessDork
- Rank 7
- Posts: 605
- Joined: Sun May 25, 2008 9:50 am
- Location: British Columbia
Re: Fellow Instructors
Seriously though. Keep pounding the pavement, & knocking on doors. If you still don't have something its probably cause your not getting out enough. Dropping off a resume once and giving up cause they werent hiring is not enough, keep asking.
Try to find potential students on your own and bring them in while applying for the job. Try volunteering at the school. I don't mean flying or instructing for free, but getting involved with the club type activities. Develop ground schools and offer them in the interview. A lot of schools have crappy ground schools, and if you are willing to offer a good commercial ground school it might get you in. Nobody wants to work on ground schools, so if you can show that initiative it will look very good.
Try to find potential students on your own and bring them in while applying for the job. Try volunteering at the school. I don't mean flying or instructing for free, but getting involved with the club type activities. Develop ground schools and offer them in the interview. A lot of schools have crappy ground schools, and if you are willing to offer a good commercial ground school it might get you in. Nobody wants to work on ground schools, so if you can show that initiative it will look very good.
Re: Fellow Instructors
I got my Class IV 2 months ago - googled all the flight schools in every province and sent out dozens and dozens of resumes. It is important to address each cover letter to the CFI or CP - usually you can find the name and specific email address on the flight school website, if not call or email the info@ address for the details. Include a cover letter, resume, references, and a letter of recommendation. All the info right at the CFI 's fingertips - if something is missing, it 's a short trip to the recycling bin and on to the next resume. Follow up with a phone call a few days later. I received many replies before landing a job, all stating that there is no hiring at this time. Went on a few roadtrips as well, no luck with those but they gave me some good info, plus you get some interview-type practice for when it really matters. Was told that the schools connected to Colleges or Universities will be looking around mid-August. Wish you the best of luck, and keep your bags packed!
- FlaplessDork
- Rank 7
- Posts: 605
- Joined: Sun May 25, 2008 9:50 am
- Location: British Columbia
Re: Fellow Instructors
As a former CFI, the resumes that went in the bin were the ones from people I've never met. I never hired anyone I didn't know. Guys who took the time and effort to walk in from afar I would at least sit down with. You have to be more then just a resume.LTGICCCCG wrote:I got my Class IV 2 months ago - googled all the flight schools in every province and sent out dozens and dozens of resumes. It is important to address each cover letter to the CFI or CP - usually you can find the name and specific email address on the flight school website, if not call or email the info@ address for the details. Include a cover letter, resume, references, and a letter of recommendation. All the info right at the CFI 's fingertips - if something is missing, it 's a short trip to the recycling bin and on to the next resume. Follow up with a phone call a few days later. I received many replies before landing a job, all stating that there is no hiring at this time. Went on a few roadtrips as well, no luck with those but they gave me some good info, plus you get some interview-type practice for when it really matters. Was told that the schools connected to Colleges or Universities will be looking around mid-August. Wish you the best of luck, and keep your bags packed!
I only ended up hiring one guy who I didn't do his instructor rating. Lets just say he didnt work out.
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- Rank 1
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- Joined: Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:48 pm
Re: Fellow Instructors
i've been looking for awhile now too. emailed CV's to almost every flight school in canada (minus quebec) and called a few too. emailing resumes is a long shot, but considering it's free and just takes a bit of time, probably worth it. i also visited as many schools as i could which in the GTA is quite a few. after all that, i had just 1 offer in early may. i had had an interview with the CFI, and spoken to him on numerous occasions through email and on the phone as well. after daily calls for a week and a half to just confirm the offer and arrange the minor details, the receptionist finally got back to me and said they had decided not to hire anyone this year. go figure.
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- Top Poster
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Re: Fellow Instructors
Absolutely . This is the reality for class 4's looking for a job. I would be shocked if any brand new Class 4 has ever been hired off a resume. Your best chance is to be hired by the school that did your flight instructor training. The probability of getting hired when you finish should be a significant factor in where you choose to train. When you do start your training, treat every lesson as a job interview. Since the guy/gal who isi training you is probably going to be the guy potentially offering you a job you really want to impress him.FlaplessDork wrote:
As a former CFI, the resumes that went in the bin were the ones from people I've never met. I never hired anyone I didn't know. Guys who took the time and effort to walk in from afar I would at least sit down with. You have to be more then just a resume.
Re: Fellow Instructors
It would be nice if every Class IV could be hired by their training school, but the reality is that sometimes they finish their training during the slow part of the year, or after the Spring hiring boom, or maybe the school just turned out 5 Class IVs and can only hire 1 or 2. And not every fresh Class IV can afford to drive across Canada knocking on every door. Many small schools do not turn out instructors on a regular basis, so when they lose one or two of their own, they start looking at resumes. Doesnt hurt to spend half a day mailing out a hundred or more resumes, you may get lucky. Spend another half day with follow up calls some time later. I was hired based solely on my resume, and am sure there are many other instructors who have been as well. And as far as choosing your flight schools, I think that the quality of training, aircraft maintenance, etc should take precedence over future job prospects with that schools.
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Re: Fellow Instructors
Bingo!Try to find potential students on your own and bring them in while applying for the job.
Don't forget that the flight school business is continuously looking for new clients. If you show at the door with two students ready to go, your chances of getting in are much better. A great way the put your foot into the door! If it doesn't work, then you can always try the next flight school in your area. Remember that the students have to follow through and start flying as soon as possible. If not, its going to look pretty bad for you at the beginning.
For new instructors: Please read this book! You Must!
The Savvy Flight Instructor: Secrets of the Successful CFI (ASA Training Manuals), by Gregory N. Brown
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- Top Poster
- Posts: 5927
- Joined: Wed Feb 18, 2004 7:17 pm
- Location: West Coast
Re: Fellow Instructors
There are 2 kinds of instructor students, the ones that get told "we were so impressed with you we will hire you now(or at the first available opening)" and the rest, and there are IMO not that many in the first catagory. My experience is that a significnt portion of the instructor students did not really try that hard and only did the minimum to pass the flight test. When I was a CFI (as a class 2) I ended up hiring one instructor. We needed to go outside the school because we did not do instructor ratings. The guy I hired had 2 things going for himLTGICCCCG wrote:It would be nice if every Class IV could be hired by their training school, but the reality is that sometimes they finish their training during the slow part of the year, or after the Spring hiring boom, or maybe the school just turned out 5 Class IVs and can only hire 1 or 2. And not every fresh Class IV can afford to drive across Canada knocking on every door. Many small schools do not turn out instructors on a regular basis, so when they lose one or two of their own, they start looking at resumes. Doesnt hurt to spend half a day mailing out a hundred or more resumes, you may get lucky. Spend another half day with follow up calls some time later. I was hired based solely on my resume, and am sure there are many other instructors who have been as well. And as far as choosing your flight schools, I think that the quality of training, aircraft maintenance, etc should take precedence over future job prospects with that schools.
1) He showed up in person
2) His references included he guy who did his instructor rating, a person I knew and greatly respected. This fellow gave him a glowing recommendation which basically sealed the deal.
re the highlighted paragraph I did not mean to imply that the possibility of being hired should be the only criteria for selecting a school. The primary criteria should be the quality of the person instructing you, but nevertheless you should be looking to the future. There are some schools that are instructor puppy mills. They are not training prospective new employees, instructor ratings are simply an income stream and your likelyhood of being hired is very low.
Re: Fellow Instructors
took me a year but I am back on the horse.... all it took was an upgrade to a Class II getting a group III instrument and a road trip I would not want to repeat
I have rock solid refrences but this time I added my volunteer work as a reference and turns out they liked that I have a life outside of flying
I have rock solid refrences but this time I added my volunteer work as a reference and turns out they liked that I have a life outside of flying
What you need to know is, how to get what you need to know.
This is not a retreat. Its an advance to the rear.
There are only 10 people in this world. Those that understand binary and those that don't.
This is not a retreat. Its an advance to the rear.
There are only 10 people in this world. Those that understand binary and those that don't.
Re: Fellow Instructors
Hi Freddy, unfortunately this is not a good time to be a new class 4 instructor.
In the last 2 weeks I have seen 2 other threads about a school in Alberta and another in Ontario closing. So that’s 2 schools that have shut down in a span of 2 weeks! This probably means that there are about 10-20 experienced instructors out there we can add to the list of job seekers who will be competing with the new class 4’s looking for work. So don’t feel bad, it’s not just you. Due to schools closing and the overall slowdown of the industry I am sure there are a lot of other people struggling as well.
In the last 2 weeks I have seen 2 other threads about a school in Alberta and another in Ontario closing. So that’s 2 schools that have shut down in a span of 2 weeks! This probably means that there are about 10-20 experienced instructors out there we can add to the list of job seekers who will be competing with the new class 4’s looking for work. So don’t feel bad, it’s not just you. Due to schools closing and the overall slowdown of the industry I am sure there are a lot of other people struggling as well.
- Freddy_Francis
- Rank 3
- Posts: 179
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:19 am
- Location: West Coast
Re: Fellow Instructors
As sad as it may seem, I somewhat feel better (If that makes any sense)
Next question...
From speaking with a few instructors i've noticed some FTU's don't pay a base, only pay per flight/ground bookings.
Whats the norm here? Are instructors expected to stick around all day just hoping someone walks through the door wanting to fly?
Do most schools assign students to instructors. Im not saying you shouldn't make an effort to be there (especially if your trying to build a clientel) but isn't the whole reason you've been hired is because there is a need for you (as in there are students waiting to fly)
This is my second year "in" the industry, still waiting for a seat. At this point it seems im on a path to renewing two ratings next spring.
Keeping that chin up, currently paying the bills in a non-aviation job and waiting for things to pick up.
As a side note, I've gone and visited schools in two provinces and sent resumes (with follow up calls) in two others. The typical response is that they just aren't hiring right now. As for a cross coutnry road trip, it just isn't a realisitc option right now for me.
Thanks for the responses, keep them coming!
Next question...
From speaking with a few instructors i've noticed some FTU's don't pay a base, only pay per flight/ground bookings.
Whats the norm here? Are instructors expected to stick around all day just hoping someone walks through the door wanting to fly?
Do most schools assign students to instructors. Im not saying you shouldn't make an effort to be there (especially if your trying to build a clientel) but isn't the whole reason you've been hired is because there is a need for you (as in there are students waiting to fly)
This is my second year "in" the industry, still waiting for a seat. At this point it seems im on a path to renewing two ratings next spring.
Keeping that chin up, currently paying the bills in a non-aviation job and waiting for things to pick up.
As a side note, I've gone and visited schools in two provinces and sent resumes (with follow up calls) in two others. The typical response is that they just aren't hiring right now. As for a cross coutnry road trip, it just isn't a realisitc option right now for me.
Thanks for the responses, keep them coming!
Fly Safe
F2
F2
Re: Fellow Instructors
Hey Freddy,
Last year I was fortunate to be hired on at the school I did my training at. Part time to start and then full time in the summer for the air cadets and full time since then. At the school I work at they do pay a base. It's not a lot but it is nice in the winter when the flying is slower due to weather. But I know of some that don't. How the distribution normally works here, is that students will fly with the instructor that they first talked to or did a discovery flight with. So it does help to be around the club, to start building that pool of students. At are school we aren't required to, but that is how you generally get students. It all depends timing really. That being said the CFI will also assign some students. And if one instructor has a lot of students they will give one or two to a newer instructor or share the flying. That way the student won't miss out on flights by having two. That being said there are some instructors out there that will never give any flight away. You can pick up some extra flights here and there by being around. Unfortunately aviation has slowed down in the last while. There are a number of instructors at my school looking to move on, but haven't found anything yet.
Good luck with your search and keep trying.
PS What provinces have you applied to schools in?
Last year I was fortunate to be hired on at the school I did my training at. Part time to start and then full time in the summer for the air cadets and full time since then. At the school I work at they do pay a base. It's not a lot but it is nice in the winter when the flying is slower due to weather. But I know of some that don't. How the distribution normally works here, is that students will fly with the instructor that they first talked to or did a discovery flight with. So it does help to be around the club, to start building that pool of students. At are school we aren't required to, but that is how you generally get students. It all depends timing really. That being said the CFI will also assign some students. And if one instructor has a lot of students they will give one or two to a newer instructor or share the flying. That way the student won't miss out on flights by having two. That being said there are some instructors out there that will never give any flight away. You can pick up some extra flights here and there by being around. Unfortunately aviation has slowed down in the last while. There are a number of instructors at my school looking to move on, but haven't found anything yet.
Good luck with your search and keep trying.
PS What provinces have you applied to schools in?
- Freddy_Francis
- Rank 3
- Posts: 179
- Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:19 am
- Location: West Coast
Re: Fellow Instructors
Thanks for the reply flips. I've sent resumes to schools in BC,AB & ON. I have walked in and visited schools in BC & Alberta.
Fly Safe
F2
F2
Re: Fellow Instructors
Big point here. The instructing world, especially at the Class 1 level, isn't all that big, and a lot of these instructors have either worked together at some point, or at least got to meet a few times around the airport or at things like TC seminars and such.Big Pistons Forever wrote:2) His references included he guy who did his instructor rating
The CFI at my school has in the past taken up instructor candidates for a flying interview following a more conventional interview on the ground. That gets him to show the prospective instructor the training area quickly and to confirm that he or she is indeed a good fit. (In case you're wondering, this flight is paid for by the school.)
Re: Fellow Instructors
That's the best money a flight school can spend on a prospective instructor(In case you're wondering, this flight is paid for by the school.)
